Sherman Hemsley, Who Moved On Up from Broadway to The Jeffersons, Dies at 74

Sherman Hemsley, best known as George Jefferson on the '70s sitcom The Jeffersons, died at his El Paso, TX home on July 24, according to TMZ. Before appearing on the hit series, Hemsley starred as Gitlow in the original 1970 Broadway production of Purlie. He reprised the role when the musical returned to Broaday in 1972. A cause of death is unknown at this time.

Hemsley was born on February 1, 1938 in South Philadelphia. Shortly after appearing in Purlie, Hemsley was cast as George Jefferson, the neighbor of Archie and Edith Bunker, on TV's All in the Family. A spin-off of his characters' family began airing in 1975, tracing their lives from working class Queens to a more luxurious apartment in Manhattan. The series lasted for 11 seasons before ending its run in 1985. His other TV credits include Dinosaurs, The Hughleys, Goode Behavior, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Amen.